Multi-color rotary printing press



w. F. HUCK MULTI-COLOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Dec. 30, 19 9 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1966 R O T m V m WILLIAM F. HUCK ATTORNEY Dec. 30, 1969 w. F. HUCK MULTI-COLOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS Filed may 5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WILLIAM F. 'HUCK ATTORN'EY 4 Dec. 30, 1969 w. F. HUCK MULTI-COLOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 5, 1966 FIG. 3.

11H! INVENTOR.

WILLIAM F. HUCK FIG. 4.

-IBY

' I ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,486,444 MULTI-COLOR ROTARY PRINTING PRESS William F. Huck, 81 Greenway Terrace, Forest Hillls, N.Y. Filed May 5, 1966, Ser. No. 547,826 Int. Cl. B41f 9/02, 5/18 US. Cl. 101-152 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to rotary printing, and is particularly directed to improvements in high quality printing, with a rotary printing press, of multi-color designs composed of inks of any color or colors impressed side by side or one upon another on ink receptive material. The invention is especially useful, for example, for security printing of the kind employed in the production of postage or commerical stamps, paper money, bonds, stock certificates and the like.

In security printing, at least part of each multi-color design is applied to the ink receptive material by direct intaglio printing so as to obtain a characteristic engraved effect. Where each design involves a large number of different colors, or where only part of the design is to be applied by direct intaglio printing, the entire design cannot be impressed by a single intaglio printing cylinder. In such cases, parts of each design may be applied by direct intaglio printing and other parts may be applied by offset or indirect printing from one or more additional printing cylinders. When the ink receptive material is in the form of a continuous web so as to permit high-speed printing thereof in a rotary press, it has been the usual practice to effect the offset or indirect printing and the direct intaglio printing of the web by separate printing units having'individual impression cylinders and acting successively on the web at locations spaced apart by a relatively large distance along the web, and the web is heated between the two printing units to dry the ink impressions applied by the offset or indirect printing unit. This known arrangement is disadvantageous in that the relatively great length of web between the printing units and the application of heat for drying the offset ink impressions tend to cause misregister between the offset ink impressions and the later applied direct intaglio ink impressions. Further, the heating of the web to dry the offset ink impressions also removes moisture from the web so that the web becomes brittle or less resilient and this detracts from the quality of the ink impressions Obtained by the direct intaglio printing.

A multi-color rotary press for security printing has also been proposed in which the ink receptive material, particularly in the form of individual sheets, is fed through the nip between a single impression cylinder and an intaglio printing cylinder. As is usual, ink is applied to the surface of the intaglio printing cylinder and such surface is then wiped clean in advance of the nip to leave ink only in the intagliated parts or depressions of the surface. Further, there is provided a transfer roller rotating in contact with the wiped surface of the intaglio printing cylinder and with a number of letter-press printing cylinders having differently colored inks suitably applied thereto. Thus,

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it is intended that the transfer roller receive ink impressions in correct register from the letterpress printing cylinders, and that such impressions be transferred from the transfer roller to the wiped surface of the intaglio printing cylinder in correct register with the intagliated parts of the latter, whereby each sheet fed through the nip between the impression and intaglio printing cylinders will simultaneously receive an intaglio ink impression from the intagliated parts or recesses of the surface of the intaglio printing cylinder and offset letterpress impressions from the other parts of such surface. Although the foregoing arrangement can achieve correct register of each direct intaglio impression with the simultaneously printed indirect or offset letter-press impression, the offset letter-press impressions are inherently of poor quality. This results from the fact that a good transfer of the letter-press impressions from the surface of the transfer roller, which is usually of rubber, to the wiped metal surface of the intaglio printing cylinder cannot be obtained by reason of the relatively low affinity of the wiped metal surface for the ink.

Accordingly, it is generally an object of this invention to avoid the above mentioned disadvantages of the previous proposals for the securityprinting of ink receptive material in a rotary printing press.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to effect the rotary printing of ink receptive material, preferably in web form, so as to apply thereto multi-inked designs of high quality composed of inks of any desired color or colors and each constituted by a plurality of precisely registered impressions at least one of which is an intaglio impression made directly on the material.

Another object is to provide printing effects that have not been attainable before by the application to ink receptive material of a plurality of precisely registered impressions composed of different colored inks which are printed side by side or one upon another to obtain various combinations of mixed and pure colors.

Another object is to provide a rotary printing press capable of efliciently performing the foregoing printing operations.

A further object is to provide a rotary printing press of relatively simple construction for the multicolored, security printing of ink receptive material, preferably in web' form.

In accordance with an aspect of this invention, the ink receptive material, preferably in web form, is wrapped against the surface of a rotatable impression cylinder and carried thereby through an extended arc of its rotation, and, at locations within such are of rotation, the material receives direct intaglio and offset or indirect impressions respectively from an intaglio printing cylinder and from transfer cylinder which is in surface-to-surface contact with a second printing cylinder. .Since the material to be printed is wrapped against the surface of a common impression cylinder during both the indirect or offset printing and the direct intaglio printing, precise register of the respective impressions may be maintained on the material. Further, the contact of the transfer cylinder with the paper or other material which is ink receptive makes it possible to form the surface of the transfer cylinder of an elastomeric blanket having an affinity for the ink transferred from the associated second printing cylinder, without sacrificing the quality of the impressions offset from the transfer cylinder onto the material to be printed.

For the best performance of the invention, the transfer cylinder contacts the impression cylinder at a location in advance of the location at which the intaglio printing cylinder bears against the impression cylinder, considered in the direction of rotation of the latter, so that ink is carried by the transfer cylinder from the associated secnd printing cylinder to the material to be printed before ink is impressed directly on the material by the intaglio printing cylinder. Since the transfer of the offset impression to the material is inherently planographic, it can be effected under relatively low contact pressure between the transfer and impression cylinders and produces a flat ink pattern or impression on the material. Such flat ink impression is compressed into the paper or other ink receptive material by the non-printing or wiped surface areas of the intaglio printing cylinder while the latter is simultaneously applying the direct intaglio impression of relatively heavy ink which, as and when desired, can be either partly or entirely superimposed over the olfset impression.

According to another advantageous feature of the invention, the second printing cylinder coacting with the transfer cylinder for indirect or offset printing on the material is also an intaglio printing cylinder, so that the impressions transferred or offset by the transfer cylinder are also of high quality.

A feature of a rotary printing press according to this invention is the provision of the impression cylinder with a compressible surface that becomes embossed by the pressure of the direct intaglio printing cylinder which is of the same diameter as the impression cylinder, whereby the embossments of the compressible surface are maintained in register with the intaglio printing elements or intagliated parts engaging the same. Further, the elastomeric blanket on the transfer cylinder makes it possible for the latter to apply the indirect or offset impressions to the material against the embossed surface of the impression cylinder without disturbing the embossments or being adversely affected thereby.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of each of the printing cylinders with means for applying different inks to selected areas of their printing surfaces, so that both the indirect or offset and the direct intaglio impressions can be, for example, multi-colored impressions, thereby permitting a wide range of colors and distinctive multi-ink effects to be embodied in the designs formed by such impressions.

A further feature is the provision of an improved arrangement to drive the wiping and polishing rollers provided for cleaning each intaglio printing cylinder at a speed which is in a variably controlled ratio to the speed at which the press is operated and, during shut-down of the press, to continue to rotate the wiping and polishing rollers and associated elements at a reduced speed to prevent caking or drying of ink thereon.

Still another feature is the provision of accurately controllable mechanisms for precisely regulating the contact pressures between the various cylinders and rollers of the press.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent in the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a rotary printing unit for a press in accordance with this invention and which is taken in a plane midway between the side frames of the press;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the printing unit of FIG. 1 which is shown with a side frame partly broken away and with a drive system for wiping and polishing units of the press being schematically represented;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 on FIG. 4, and showing details of a mechanism for precisely regulating the contact pressure between cylinders of the printing unit; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 on FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and initially to FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, it will be apparent that there are shown only those parts of a rotary printing unit .4 essential to understanding of the present invention, and that such parts are shown in simplified form so as to avoid structural complexities that would obscure the true nature of the invention.

The rotary printing unit 10 is shown applied to the multi-color printing of paper or other ink receptive material in the form of a web W which may be unwound from a rollstand (not shown) of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,061,225, to William F. Huck. The web W, during its movement to rotary printing unit 10 from the rollstand, preferably passes through a number of devices (not shown) which may include a web conditioner for stabilizing the length of the web and thereby reducing register variations, a side register control device of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,009,664, to William F. Huck, and a lateral or side tensioning device of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,147,898, also to William F. Huck.

The web W enters and leaves printing unit 10 over guide rollers 11 and 12 rotatably supported on an upper frame 13 carried by side frame members 14 and 15. The printing unit 10 embodying this invention generally includes a single impression cylinder 16 (FIG. 1) rotatably mounted between side frame members 14 and 15 below guide rolls 11 and 12 to receive the web of paper or other ink receptive material to be printed and to carry the web wrapped against its surface through an extended are A of the rotation of cylinder 16.

The printing unit 10 further generally includes an intaglio printing cylinder 17 rotatably mounted between side frame members 14 and 15 so as to bear under pressure against the surface of impression cylinder 16 at a location L in the are A; a second printing cylinder 18 rotatably mounted between side frame members 14 and 15 and being spaced away from impression cylinder 16; and a transfer cylinder 19 rotatably mounted between the side frame members so as to be in surface-to-surface contact with impression cylinder 16 at another location L in the arc A and also in surface-to-surface contact with the second printing cylinder 18 at a location L The intaglio printing cylinder 17 has associated therewith one or more inking units, for example, three of such units, as indicated at 20a, 20b and 200, and a wiping and polishing unit 21. The printing cylinder 18 is preferably also an intaglio printing cylinder, that is, one having the design or impression to be printed thereby in the form of etched recesses constituting intaglio elements or intagliated parts of the surface of cylinder 18. Intaglio print ing cylinder 18 also has associated therewith one or more inking units, as at 20a, 20b and 200, and a Wiping and polishing unit 21.

Impression cylinder 16 has a cylindrical body 22 (FIG. 2) trunnions 23 (FIG. 2) projecting axially from its opposite ends and being journalled in bearings 24 mounted in eccentric housings 25 carried by side frame members 14 and 15. Eccentric housings 25 are turnable by suitable mechanisms (not shown) so as to vary the distance between the axes of cylinders 16 and 17 and thereby adjust the pressure with which intaglio printing cylinder 17 bears against the surface of impression cylinder 16. The surface of impression cylinder 16 is formed by a blanket 26 (FIG. 1) of fiber packing suitably clamped or secured on the periphery of body 22. Thus, the surface of impression cylinder 16 is compressible and becomes embossed by the pressure of intaglio printing cylinder 17. Impression cylinder 16 and intaglio printing cylinder 17 have the same diameter, as shown, whereby the embossments of the compressible surface of cylinder 16 are maintained in register with the intagliated parts or intaglio printing elements of cylinder 17 engaging the same when cylinders 16 and 17 are rotated at the same speed.

Transfer cylinder 19 includes a cylindrical body 27 having on its periphery a replaceable one-piece elastomeric blanket 28 of rubber or other material having an aflinity for ink, and trunnions 29 extending axially from the opposite ends of body 27 and being journalled in bearings 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4). In order to permit precise adjustment of the pressure of the surface-to-surface contact of transfer cylinder 19 with impression cylinder 16 and with printing cylinder 18, bearings 30 are mounted in adjustable bearing housings 31a and 31b carried by side frame members 14 and 15, respectively.

Each of bearing housings 31a and 31b is shown to include an inner eccentric 32 containing bearing 30 and being turnable Within an outer eccentric 33 which is, in turn, turnable with respect to the side frame member. Arms 34 and 35 extend radially from the inner ends of eccentrics 32 and 33 and terminate in gear segments 36 and 37 which are respectively in meshing engagement with pinions 38 and 39. Pinions 38 and 39 are driven by rotary hydraulic actuators 40 and 41 carried by the adjacent side frame member 14 or 15, and which may be of the type commercially available from Ex-Cell-O Corporation, 945 Sater Street, Greenville, Ohio. The parallelism and pressure of the surface-to-surface contact of cylinder 19 with cylinders 16 and 18 are controlled by suitably limiting the angular displacements of eccentrics 32 and 33 in bearing housings 31a and 31b.

As shown, angular displacements of the eccentrics may be limited by engagement of stops 42 and 43 threadably secured in arms 34 and 35, respectively, with adjustable cams 44a and 45a, in the case of bearing housing 31a, and with adjustable cams 44b and 45b, in the case of bearing housing 31b. As particularly shown on FIG. 4, cam 44a is keyed or otherwise secured on a shaft 46 adjacent the end of the latter journalled in side frame member 14, and cam 44b is integral with a hollow stub shaft 47 which is rotatable in side frame member andthrough which shaft 46 extends so as to be rotatable with respect thereto. An inner flange 48 is keyed or otherwise secured on the end portion of hollow stub shaft 47 projecting beyond side frame member 15, and an outer flange 49 is keyed or otherwise secured on an end portion of shaft 46 projecting beyond hollow shaft 47. A locking cap 50 is threadably engaged 'with a threaded end 51 of shaft 46 and has cutouts or holes 52 providing access to the heads of bolts 53 extending through arcuate slots54 in flange 49 and by which the latter is normally secured with respect to flange 48. Flange 48 has axial bores containing spring biased buttons 55 urged into contact with the adjacent surfaces of side frame member 15 and flange 49, thereby to provide a frictional drag resisting the rotation of flange 48 relative to side frame member '15 and of flange 49 relative to flange 48.

When it is desired to simultaneously adjust both cams 44a and 44b, thereby to limit the angular displacement of eccentrics 32 in housings 31a and 31b to the same extent, locking cap 50 is loosened, and flanges 48 and 49 held securely to each other by bolts 53 are turned to the extent desired. However, if the cylinders in question are not parallel, bolts 53 are loosened following loosening of cap 50 and flanges 48 and 49 are turned relative to each other to effect corresponding angular displacement of cams 44a and 44b. After such adjustment has been effected, bolts 53 are again tightened to secure flanges 48 and 49 relative to each other, and then locking cap 50 is tightened to secure both flanges against turning relative to side frame member 15. If desired, the amount of displacement of the axis of cylinder 19 resulting from tuming of cams 44a and 44b may be indicated by providing flange 48 with a calibrated scale on its periphery cooperating with a suit-able index on the adjacent side frame member 15.

The cams 45a and 54b are mounted with respect to a shaft 56 in the same way as has been described above with respect to cams 44a and 44b so as to be adjustable either simultaneously or with respect to each other for adjustably limiting the displacements of eccentrics 33 of housings 31a and 31b by the associated actuators 41.

Impression cylinder 16 is set or adjusted by means of its eccentric bearing housings 25 so as to provide a relatively heavy pressure at the location L of its bearing contact with the surface of the intaglio printing cylinder 17 which is rotatable about a fixed axis. On the other hand, transfer cylinder 19 is set by adjustment of its bearing housings 31a and 31b, as described above, to provide relatively light contact pressure at the location L of its surface-to-surface contact with impression cylinder 16, and a relatively heaver pressure at the location L of its surface-to-surface contact with intaglio printing cylinder 18 which is also rotatable about a fixed axis.

Inking units 20a, 20b and 200 associated with intaglio printing cylinder 17 are operative to successively apply inks of different colors to selected areas of the intagliated parts or intaglio printing elements at the surface of cylinder 17, and the wiping and polishing unit 21 associated with the latter cylinder is operative to wipe clean the surface of cylinder 17 in advance of the location L and to leave the variously colored inks only in the intaglio printing elements of the cylinder. Thus, the ink remaining in the intaglio printing elements at the surface of cylinder 17 is impressed directly onto web W at location L The inking units 20a, 20b and 20c and the wiping and polishing unit 21 associated with intaglio printing cylinder 18 similary operate to provide variously colored inks in selected areas of the intaglio printing elements in the surface of cylinder 18 in advance of location L and such ink applied to the intaglio printing elements of cylinder 18 is impressed onto the surface of transfer cylinder 19 at location L and is carried by transfer cylinder 19 to web W at location L Since web W is wrapped against the surface of impression cylinder 16 within arc A that includes both locations L and L precise register of the plurality of distinct inked impressions made at such locations L and L can be maintained.

Preferably, as shown on FIG. 1, the location L at which transfer cylinder 19 contacts impression cylinder 16 is in advance of the location L of bearing of printing cylinder 17 against the impression cylinder, considered in the direction of the rotation of cylinder 16, as indicated by the arrow R Thus, ink is carried from the intaglio printing elements of cylinder 18 to the Web by transfer cylinder 19 before ink is impressed directly on the web by intaglio printing cylinder 17. Since the transfer of the offset impression to the web at location L is inherently planogra-phic, it can be effected under relatively low contact pressure between transfer cylinder 19 and impression cylinder 16 and produces a flat ink pattern or impression on the web. Such flat ink impression is compressed into the paper or other ink receptive material of web W by the non-printing or wiped surface areas of intaglio printing cylinder 17 at location L while cylinder .17 is simultaneoulsy appliying the direct intaglio impression of relatively heavy ink which may be, at least in part, superimposed over the registered offset impression The provision of transfer cylinder 19 with the blanket 28 of rubber or other elastomeric material having an afiinity for the ink in the intaglio printing elements of cylinder 18 ensures the high quality transfer of ink fromsuch printing elements to the surface of transfer cylinder 19, and further ensures that the indirect or offset impressions will be applied to web W against the embossed surface of impression cylinder 16 without disturbing the embossments of such surface or being adversely affected thereby. The fact that the blanket 28 of transfer cylinder 19 has an aflinity for the ink picked up from the intaglio printing elements of cylinder 18 does not disadvantageously affect the transfer of the impressions from cylinder 19 to the web W against cylinder 16 as the paper or other ink receptive material of the web has an even greater aifinity for the ink.

As shown on FIG. 1, cylinders 18 and 19 preferably also have the same diameter as cylinders 16 and 17 so that embossments of the surface of transfer cylinder 19 resulting from the pressure of its contact with intaglio printing cylinder 18 will be maintained in register with the intaglio printing elements of cylinder 18 producing such embossrnents, and in register with the intaglio impressions applied directly to the web at location L Cylinders 16, 17, 18 and 19 are all rotated at the same speed, for example, from the main drive shaft 57 (FIG.

- 2) of the printing press. As shown, the drive for the enumerated cylinders may include a bevel gear 58 on shaft 57 meshing with a bevel gear 59 on a take-off shaft 68 carrying a worm 61 meshing with a worm gear 62 secured to an extension of the trunnion 23 at one end of impression cylinder 16. The resulting rotation of impression cylinder 16 is transmitted to cylinders 17 and 19 by way of a gear 63 secured to cylinder 16 and meshing with gears 64 and 65 secured to cylinders 17 and 19, respectively. Printing cylinder 18 is rotated by way of a gear 66 secured relative thereto and meshing with gear 65. Preferably, gears 63, 64, 65 and 66 are all heavy-duty blacklash take-up gears, for example, as disclosed in US. Patent No. 2,911,847, to William F. Huck, thereby to ensure precise circumferential registration of all of cylinders 16, 17, 18 and 19 with respect to each other.

As shown on FIG. 1, each of the inking units a, 2012 and 200 includes an inking-in cylinder 67 having a cylindrical body 68 to the periphery of which one or more metal-backed rubber printing plates 69 is suitably secured. Each rubber printing plate 69 has raised areas or lines corresponding to the pattern of the respective colored ink to be applied to the surface of the associated intaglio printing cylinder 17 or 18. Each inking unit further includes an ink fountain 70 which maintains a supply of the respective ink above the nip between an ink applicator roller 71 and a mill roller 72. Each inking-in cylinder 67 is preferably mounted in eccentric bearing housings (not shown) similar to the housings 31a and 31b described above in connection with transfer cylinder 19 so as to permit independent adjustment of the contact pressure of cylinder 67 with cylinder 18 and with the associated ink applicator roller 71 which is mounted to rotate about a fixed axis. The mill roller 72 is preferably mounted in eccentric bearing housings (not shown) to permit adjustment of the pressure of contact at the nip between rollers 71 and 72, thereby to control the thickness of the layer of ink carried by roller 71 for application to the rubber printing plate 69.

Each inking-in cylinder 67 is driven at the same peripheral speed as the associated intaglio printing cylinder 17 or 18, for example, through a gear 73 secured to cylinder 67 and meshing with the gear 64 or 66 secured to the respective intaglio printing cylinder. The ink applicator roller 71 of each printing unit is rotated at the same peripheral speed as the associated cylinder 67, for example, by a gear 74 (FIG. 2) secured to roller 71 and meshing with gear 73. Each mill roller 72 is preferably driven at a peripheral speed less than that of the associated applicator roller 71, for example, through meshing pinions 75 and 76 respectively engaging gear 74 and a gear 77 secured to roller 72 and having a larger pitch diameter than gear 74. The relatively slower peripheral speed of each mill roller 72 causes the latter to grind the ink onto the surface of the associated applicator roller 71.

Each of the wiping and polishing units 21 includes a wiping roller 78 and a polishing roller 79 that engage the surface of the associated intaglio printing cylinder 17 or 18 in succession, considered in the direction of rotation of the printing cylinder, following the application of ink to selected areas of the surface of the printing cylinder by the associated inking units 20a, 20b and 20c. The rollers 78 and 79 were operative to clean excess ink from the surface of printing cylinder 17 or 18 and to leave ink only in the recesses or intaglio printing elements thereof.

Each of rollers 78 and 79 preferably has a soft inner layer 80 of resilient material, for example, of sponge rubber, and a hard, smooth outer shell, for example, of polytetrafiuoroethylene, which firmly contacts the peripheral surface of the respective printing cylinder. In order to permit quick replacement of the outer shell 81 when the latter becomes worn, each of rollers 78 and 79 may have its outer shell arranged thereon in the manner disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,205,814, to William F. Huck.

The rollers 78 and 79 are preferably oscillated axially by suitable known mechanisms (not shown) to ensure even wiping and polishing of the associated printing cylinder. Further, during operation of printing unit 10, rollers 78 and 79 of each unit 21 are rotationally driven, as hereinafter described in detail, at a peripheral speed greater than the peripheral speed of the associated printing cylinder 17 or 18 and in the same rotational direction as the latter so that the peripheral movement of each of rollers 78 and 79, at the location of the contact thereof with the printing cylinder 17 or 18, is opposed to the direction of the peripheral movement of the printing cylinder.

The heavy ink deposits removed by wiping roller 78 from the surface of the associated intaglio printing cylinder are scraped from roller 78 by a scraping knife 82 and drained from the knife into a waste box 83. After moving past scraping blade 82, the surface of wiping roller 78 is contacted by a solvent saturated, felt-covered roller 84 that dilutes the remaining ink film on the surface of roller 78 so that such film can be removed from the roller by a plastic squeeze blade 85. Solvent is applied to felt-covered roller 84 by a cloth-covered roller 86 which is rotatable in a solvent containing fountain 87 and in rolling contact with the surface of roller 84.

Polishing roller 79 wipes off the scum left on the surface of the intaglio printing cylinder 17 or 18 by wiping roller 78 and leaves just the correct amount of ink for printing in the intagliated parts or intaglio printing elements of the printing cylinder. The scum removed from the printing cylinder by roller 79 is diluted on the surface of the latter by a solvent saturated felt-covered roller 88 which receives solvent from a cloth-covered roller 89 running in a solvent fountain 90. The diluted scum is removed from the surface of roller 79 by a plastic squeeze blade 91, and the surface of roller 79 is dried prior to contacting the surface of the printing cylinder by an air blast from a nozzle 92. Dirty solvent that has been used for cleaning rollers 78 and 79 is drained into collecting pans 93 and 94 disposed therebelow, and such solvent may be cleaned by a commercially available solvent recovery system and recirculated to the fountains 87 and 90.

The rollers 78 and 79 and the other elements associated therewith in each unit 21, as described above, may be mounted in a sub-frame 95 which is pivotally supported, as at 96, between side frame members 14 and 15. Each sub-frame 95 is rockable about its pivot 96 between an operative position, as shown on FIG. 1, where the sub-frame engages a stop 97 and rollers 78 and 79 are disposed in contact with the associated printing cylinder 17 or 18, and an inoperative position, where the sub-frame engages a stop 98 and rollers 78 and 79 are spaced away from the surface of the printing cylinder. An actuator 99, which may be electrically controlled, is suitably connected to sub-frame 95 to hold the latter in its operative position, as shown, only during operation of printing unit 10.

Preferably, rollers 78 and 79 of each wiping and polishing unit 21 are mounted in eccentric housings similar to the housings 31a and 31!) described above with reference to transfer roller 19 so as to permit adjustment of the contact pressure of rollers 78 and 79 with the printing cylinder 17 or 18 and also with the solvent-saturated rollers 84 and 88, respectively.

In accordance with the present invention, rollers 78 and 79 are driven at speeds that vary proportionally with the speed of the press during operation of the latter and, when the press is stopped and actuator 99 causes disengagement of rollers 78 and 79 from the associated printing cylinder 17 or 18, rollers 78 and 79 are continuously rotated, but at a relatively slower speed, to ensure continued cleaning of rollers 78 and 79 and thereby prevent caking of the waste ink in each wiping and polishing unit 21.

As shown on FIG. 2, the drive for each unit 21 includes a hydraulically operated motor 100 having a rotated shaft 101 carrying a worm 102 that meshes with a worm gear 103 secured on a stub shaft 104 which is journalled in sub-frame 95. A gear 105 is also secured on shaft 104 and meshes with gears 106 and 107 respectively Secured to the shafts of rollers 78 and 79 of the associated unit 21. Shaft 104 further carries a sprocket (not shown) that engages a chain 108 running around sprockets 109 and 110 (FIG. 2) secured on the shafts of rollers 111 and 112 (FIG. 1). Rollers 111 and 112 have axially grooved or serrated surfaces and are mounted in sub frame 95 in rolling contact with rollers 84 and 88, respectively. Thus, when motor 100 is operated by the pumping of hydraulic fluid therethrough, stub shaft 104 is rotated to effect rotation of rollers 78 and 79 through gears 105, 106 and 107 and, simultaneously, rollers 111 and 112 are rotated through chain 108 and sprockets 109 and 110 to effect rotation of rollers 84 and 88 of rollers 86 and 89 through contact of the latter with rollers 84 and-88.

The system for pumping hydraulic fluid through motors 100 of wiping and polishing units 21 is shown to include a variable displacement hydraulic pump 113 (FIG. 2) driven from main drive shaft 57, as by meshing bevel gears 114 and 115. The pump 113 is of a type which is adjustable, as by a hand wheel indicated schematically at 116; to vary the output of the pump in relation to the speed at which the pump is driven from drive shaft 57. A pump 117 driven continuously by an electric motor 118 is interposed in a conduit 119 extending from a hydraulic fluid reservoir 120 to the inlet of variable capacity pump 113 and maintains a pressure head on variable pump 113. A conduit 121 extends from the outlet of pump 113 to a solenoid operated valve 122 which is energized during operation of the press to establish communication between conduit 121 and a feed conduit 123 extending from valve 122 to branches 123a and 123b leading to the inlets of motors 100. The outlets of motors 100 are connected through branched lines 124a and 124b to a return conduit 124 connected to valve 122 and communicating through the latter, during operation of the press, with a conduit 125 connected to conduit 119 intermediate pump 117 and the inlet of pump 113. Another pump 126 driven continuously by an electric motor 127 is interposed in a conduit 128 connected across conduits 123 and 124 and further connected by a line 129 to conduit 119 so that pump 126 also operates under a pressure head provided by pump 117. In order to prevent the overloading of motors 100 by excessive hydraulic pressure, a pressure relief valve 130 and gauge 131 are interposed in a conduit 132 connected across conduits 123 and 124 at a location between conduit 128 and solenoid valve 122. Further, a check valve 133 is interposed in conduit 123 between valve 122 and conduit 132 to permit flow through the related section of conduit 123 only in the direction away from solenoid valve 122.

When the press is operating and actuators 99 maintain sub-frames 95 in their operative positions to contact rollers 78 and 79 with printing cylinders 17 and 18, solenoid valve 122 is energized and hydraulic fluid is carried from variable displacement pump 113 through conduit 121, energized valve 122, conduit 123 and branches 123a and 123b to motors 100 and returns from the motors by way of branches 124a, conduit 124, energized valve 122 and conduits 125 and 119 back to pump 113 so as to effect rotation of rollers 78 and 79 at a peripheral speed that is greater than that of the printing cylinders 17 and 18 by an adjustable ratio that is predetermined by the setting of variable displacement pump 113. The pressure head established by pump 117 compensates for any leakage in motors and in pumps 113 and 126, which leakage may be drained back to the reservoir through suitable lines (not shown). It will be apparent that any change in the press speed will result in a corresponding change in the rate at which hydraulic fluid is delivered by pump 113 and therefore will result in a corresponding change in the rotational speed at which rollers 78 and 79 are driven.

When the press is stopped, actuators 99 cause movement of sub-frames 95 to their inoperative positions so that rollers 78 and 79 are spaced away from printing cylinders -;17 and 18. Stopping of the press is further accompanied by deenergizing of solenoid valve 122. The deene'rgized valve 122 communicates conduit 121 with conduit and thereby isolates variable displacement pump 113 from the remainder of the system for driving motors 100. Upon such isolation of pump 113, the motordriven pump 126 supplies hydraulic fluid under pressure to motors 100 to effect rotation of rollers 78 and 79, and also of rollers 84, 86, 88 and 89, at relatively slower constant speeds thereby to prevent caking of the waste ink on the rollers of the wiping and polishing units 21 during shut-down of the press. During driving of motors 100 by pump 126, check valve 133 ensures that any excess pressure will be relieved through valve 130.

Inking units 20a, 20b and 20a coacting with printing cylinder 17 and with printing cylinder 18, respectively, can apply different colored inks side by side or one upon another on the surface of the respective printing cylinder, so that each direct intaglio impression and each indirect or offset impression can be formed of three different pure colors and of various mixed colors produced by the overlapping or close proximity of the pure colors. Further, the direct intaglio impression and the indirect or offset impression can be applied to the ink receptive material in side by side or overlapped relation to obtain additional mixing of colors. Thus, each design or pattern applied to web W by printing unit 10 can be formed of six pure colors and various mixed colors resulting from the overlapping of the pure colors on the printing cylinders 17 and 18 and/or on the ink receptive material of the web.

If it is desired to apply designs or impressions to the Web in more than the six pure colors and various mix tures thereof possible with the illustrated printing unit 10, the printed Web emerging from unit 10 can be dried and then passed through another similar multi-color rotary printing unit which will apply impressions in other colors registered with respect to the impressions applied in unit 10. Further, it will be apparent that the application of precisely registered indirect or offset impressions and direct intaglio impressions successively to the ink receptive material wrapped against the surface of a single impression cylinder, may be employed in the printing of individual sheets of paper or other ink receptive material as well as in the printing of a continuous web thereof, as in the illustrated embodiment.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary printing press comprising a rotatable in taglio printing cylinder and inking means for depositing ink on selected areas of the intagliated surface of said cylinder, wiping and polishing roller means engageable With said intagliated surface after said inking means and drive means operated in synchronism with said cylinder to rotate said wiping and polishing roller means at a peripheral speed which is in an adjustably predetermined ratio to the peripheral speed of said cylinder and in the direction opposed to the movement of said intagliated surface at the location of its engagement by said wiping and polishing roller means, whereby said roller means remove the applied ink from the parts of said intagliated surface other than the intaglio printing elements in said selected areas thereof, said wiping and polishing roller means including at least one roller having a relatively hard outer shell of a material having a low coeflicient of friction with respect to said surface of the intaglio printing cylinder, and a soft resilient inner layer underlying said outer shell to allow the latter to deflect for conforming to said surface of the intaglio printing cylinder.

2. A rotary printing press according to claim 1, said outer shell of the roller being of polytetrafluoroethylene.

3. A rotary printing press comprising a rotatable in taglio printing cylinder and inking means for depositing ink on selected areas of the intagliated surface of said cylinder, wiping and polishing roller means engageable with said intagliated surface after said inking means and drive means operated in synchronism with said cylinder to rotate said Wiping and polishing roller means at a peripheral speed which is in an adjustably predetermined ratio to the peripheral speed of said cylinder and in the direction opposed to the movement of said intagliated surface at the location of its engagement by said wiping and polishing roller means, whereby said roller means remove the applied ink from the parts of said intagliated surface other than the intaglio printing elements in said selected areas thereof, said drive means including a fluid pressure operated motor, means connecting said motor with said roller means to rotate the latter at a speed corresponding to the volumetric rate at which fluid under pressure is supplied to said motor, a variable displacement pump for supplying fluid under pressure to said motor at a volumetric speed adjustably corresponding to said speed at which the pump is driven, and means for driving said pump at a speed synchronized to the speed of rotation of said intaglio printing cylinder.

4. A rotary printing press according to claim 3, further having cleaning means operated by said motor of the drive means to clean said wiping and polishing roller means, and auxiliary pump means supplying fluid under pressure to said motor at a constant volumetric rate for continuing the rotation of said wiping and polishing roller means and the operation of said cleaning means at reduced speeds when the press is stopped, thereby to prevent caking of ink on said roller means.

5. A rotary printing press comprising a rotatable impression cylinder to receive ink receptive material wrapped against its surface in an extended are, a rotatable intaglio printing cylinder bearing under pressure against the surface of said impression cylinder at one location in said are means for applying to the intaglio elements of said printing cylinder ink to be impressed directly onto said material at said one location, a second rotatable printing cylinder spaced away from said impression cylinder, a transfer cylinder rotating in surface to surface contact with said impression cylinder at another location in said are and also in surface to surface contact with said second printing cylinder, and means for applying to the printing elements of said second printing cylinder ink to be impressed onto the surface of said transfer cylinder and carried by the transfer cylinder to said material at said other location, whereby a plurality of distinct ink impressions may be made in precise register on said material, said press further comprising eccentric bearing housing means supporting said impression cylinder and being adjustable to vary the pressure under which said intaglio printing cylinder bears against the impression cylinder, and respective eccentric bearing housing means supporting trunnions on opposite ends of said transfer cylinder and being adjustable to independently vary the pressures of the contact of said transfer cylinder with said second printing cylinder and with said impression cylinder, respectively, each said eccentric bearing housing means including independently turnable inner and outer eccentrics and motor operated means for turning each of said eecentrics, a first pair of cams adjustably limiting turning of said inner eccentrics for the opposite ends of the transfer cylinder, a second pair of cams adjustably limiting turning of said outer eccentrics for the opposite ends of the transfer cylinder, and means to adjust the cams of each of said pairs simultaneously and with respect to each other, thereby to respectively vary the contact pressures of said transfer cylinder with said impression and second printing cylinders and the parallelism of said transfer cylinder with said impression and second printing cylinders.

6. In a rotary printing press comprising a first rotary cylinder arranged to rotate in surface to surface contact with a plurality of other rotary cylinders simultaneously, said first cylinder having on its opposite ends axially disposed trunnions journalled in respective bearings sup ported in opposite frame members of the press, means for positioning said first cylinder in contact and parallelism with each of said other cylinders at a selected pressure thereagainst, including for each of said bearings an cecentric housing holding the related bearing in the related frame member and comprising a plurality of eccentric sleeves fitted and turnable one within another and in said frame member, said bearing being in the innermost of said sleeves, means connected with each of said eccentric sleeves for turning such sleeve relative to each other of said sleeves and relative to said frame member so as to displace the axis of the trunnion in said bearing toward or away from the axis of one of said other cylinders, adjustably positioned stop means for limiting the turning movement of each of said sleeves so that by appropriate settings of the several stop means said first cylinder will be positioned to have a desired extent of surface contact with each of said other cylinders, means interconnecting the respective stop means for the innermost sleeves of the two eccentric housings for simultaneously and equally adjusting their positions, and separate means interconnecting the respective stop means for corresponding outer sleeves of said housings for simultaneously and equally adjusting their positions.

7. A rotary press according to claim 6, said means for turning each sleeve comprising an arm extending radially from the sleeve and a motor operated gear for turning said arm, said stop means for each sleeve comprising a turnable cam abutted by a stop member on said arm of such sleeve, and each of said interconnecting means comprising adjustably interconnected shafts respectively carrying and for turning the said cams related to correspondingly located sleeves of the two housings.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,200,565 10/1916 Wood.

1,895,080 I/ 1933 MacArthur.

2,110,428 3/1938 Simonds 60-53 2,151,960 3/1939 Ericksson 101-152 2,275,514 3/1942 Dudley 10l363 2,578,700 12/1951 Harrold et a1 101-2l8 2,607,238 8/1952 English et a1 101-248 2,746,387 5/1956 Neumann 101155 2,778,303 1/1957 Stempel 10l218 3,316,838 5/1967 DeFeuchin 101152 3,285,169 11/1966 Hartwig 101-350 2,444,547 7/ 1948 Whitehead 101221 2,986,086 5/1961 Siebke 101-218 FOREIGN PATENTS 191,476 1/ 1923 Great Britain.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner J. F. FISHER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

